Wildflower Wedding by Luann McLane Page B

heart skip a beat.
    â€œDon’t send me away.”
    â€œI . . .” She looked up at his handsome face bathed in the moonlight and swallowed hard. She didn’t want him to go and yet . . .
    â€œOkay . . . all right.” He inhaled a deep breath but took a step closer. “No, it’s not all right.”
    â€œReese, what’s wrong?”
    â€œAh . . . Gabby.” He looked up at the night sky and shook his head before gazing at her again. “All I could think about was holding your hand on the walk home. And now . . . now all I want to do is kiss you and yet I can feel you pulling away.”
    â€œI’m not pulling away. I . . . I wasn’t sure what you were thinking.”
    â€œCan’t you feel it, Gabby? This thing between us?”
    She swallowed. Of course she felt it. Longing. Desire so potent that it consumed her thoughts . . . scared her. And Reese was so dangerously sexy. She could lose herself in his arms. Fall deeply in love with him. Dare she risk it?
    â€œI’ll go. I’m glad you had a good time.”
    Gabby nodded, but when he reached over and caressed her cheek, it was her undoing. Gathering courage, she gave him a slow smile.
    â€œGabby, what are you doing?”
    â€œI think I’m about to throw myself at you.”
    Grinning, Reese put his suit coat over the nearby railing, took a step back, and opened his arms wide. “I’ll catch you.”
    With a little laugh Gabby launched herself at him. As promised Reese caught her easily. And then he kissed her. Playful at first, spinning around while she clung to his shoulders, but then suddenly she threaded her fingers through his hair and kissed him with the pent-up passion she’d been feeling since the first touch, the first kiss. He was temptation. Danger. And she wanted him with an all-consuming hunger.
    Gabby tossed away the caution that she’d been holding over her head like an umbrella for such a long time. And she simply let go and gave in to the moment.
    Let it rain. . . .
    His lips felt so warm so soft . . . so seductive. She opened her mouth for more, dipping her tongue in to taste, to tease, to tempt. He kissed her on and on beneath the canopy of stars, the light of the moon. Crickets chirped, frogs croaked, and a cat meowed, oblivious to Gabby’s life-changing moment. This wasn’t a kiss stolen in high school or the nearly being kissed in her shop. This kiss was deliberate. Delicious. Wanted. Needed.
    Still kissing her, Reese carried her up the steps to the landing leading to her back door.
    â€œMy . . . keys,” she said, breathless and between kisses. “In . . . my . . . purse.” She slid down his body to a standing position but had to cling to him for support. Fumbling with the clasp, she managed to get her purse open, but with a low, sexy chuckle Reese took the keys from her trembling fingers and opened the door.
    As soon as they were inside he swept her off her feet, making her giggle until he smothered her laughter with another sweet, hot kiss. He let her slide slowly down his body and then kissed her bare shoulder, holding her close. Gabby tilted her head to the side, giving him better access to her neck, and he took full advantage. His hands spanned her waist and then moved upward to caress her bare back, causing a hot tingle to slide down her spine.
    Gabby wanted to reach up and untie the halter, allowing her breasts to tumble free, but she knew that having his hot mouth on her bare breasts would be her undoing. As much as she longed to take him into her bedroom and make wild passionate love to Reese, she knew it was too much too soon.
    â€œGod, I want you, Gabby.”
    â€œReese—”
    He put a fingertip on her lips. “No, you don’t have to say it. I know it’s too soon. As much as I want you right now, I want this to